Morning journal and courier., 1887-10-21
JULIUS A. PRESTON.

His Death In New York City Yesterday
Long a PFominent New Haven
Mantle Notable Enterprises i'm
which He Was KnEaged-A Busy
Career.
Many will learn with sorrow and regret of
the death of Julius A. Preston, which oc-
Cured yesterday at his residence in New
York city. For year past his health, which
had before been of the best, failed and he
had suffered with diabetes and heart trouble
supervened, causing his death. His condi-
ton had not been considered critical until
within the last few days, when the heart
trouble became aggravated. His health had
yisibly failed since the death of his compan-
ion, the wife of his youth. last spring. Mr..
Preston was in various respects remarkable
man. He was of strong, large and robust
physique and vigorous presence, and one
who would be selected as a man of more
than ordinary ability. He was also man
of indomitable energy and great force of
character and possessed rare inventive skill.
Mr.. Preston was native of Cheshire, Ct. /,
born in 1928. He was lineal descendant of
William Preston, one of the original New
Haven settlers of 1888. His boyhood was
Il
| came to New Haven and located. His first
notable business enterprise was the estab-
1 lishment of the key shop in Fair Haven,
| which, under his care and owing to his in
ventive genius, rapidly grew and became a
| fiourishing concern. 1t was practically the
first keg shop, and from the making of kegs
by hand in the old way, as was done by his
| father before him and others, he inaugurated
| the manufacture of them by machinery, and
| by his inventions this was wonderfully
expedited. He took out no patents upon the
inventions. He very successfully ran the key
shop, making much money, and eventually
in 1868 sold out the business for $10O, 900.
He started the business in 1850. This factory
was ON the water front some distance east of
Ex-Governor Bigelows boiler mandatory.
The business he established was sold to prom
| inent oyster growers of Fair Haven. Mr..
Preston now turned his attention to coal
transportation, and his inventive mind and
energy soon opened a new method of bring
ing coal in these waters. He built and
patented the big barge Dunderberg, which
made quite sensation in the coal trade in
those days. 1t carried 1000 tons. In this
enterprise he made money. After this In
1873 ne started and organized the EN-
pre Transportation company, of which his
son-iu-law, Alderman George B. Martin of
this city, is president, and located his office
and residence in New York. This enter
prise became also a marked success, and Mr.
Preston built the big square wooden Darges
for coal transportation which are so much in
vogue and which also when they appeared
| attracted much attention from the public.
| He also, in 1881, started and organized the
New England Coal Transportation company,
| which was soon afterward consolidated with
| the Empire company. Three or four
years ago his son-in-law, Alderman Martin,
purchased his interest in the business and
Mr.. Preston retired from active business. He
4 had resided in New York for num-
| Der of years past, though fire.
quently q visitor to this city, and
| spent most of last winter in this city, having
apartments at the Kensington. He was a
| liberal, large hearted man and a generous
| contributor to charity and to the church, as
was we'll known in Fair Haven, where he
was resident. He resided for years on
| Grand avenue, nearly opposite the First
Congregational church He was a generous
supporter of st. James Episcopal church,
| Fair Haven. About 1864 he ran an exeur-
| sion steamer from this city to Charles Island,
which was a very popular excursion trip and
| patronized daily by many of our prominent
citizens. The boat was the Alice Preston,
| named in honor of his only child, the
| wife of Alderman Martin The deceased had
| no brothers or sisters living.
The funeral takes place at 1890 Saturday
from the residence of Alderman Martin, TIA
Orange street. The interment will be in the
| family lot in the Cheshire burying ground by
| the side of the wife, the procession going in
carriages to the burial.